Birthplace of the City of Maplewood, the intersection of Big Bend and Manchester.
Photos
James Sutton chose well when he picked this spot for his blacksmithing and iron forging business in the mid-1800s. It’s still a good site for business. This intersection of the road to the state capitol and the road leading to the Big Bend of the Meramec River is the location of the first residential and commercial activity that grew to become the City of Maplewood.
CVS, the drugstore chain, will soon complete its store on the SE corner of this intersection. Despite some resistance QuikTrip is pursuing their plan to build a new store on the NW corner. Unless I miss my guess, we may soon be dealing with some other large business that would like to locate on the SW corner. The thought of all the additional traffic makes me shudder. Perhaps we’ll need an overpass. Just kidding, I hope.
I’ve no reason to think that these corporate entities will be anything other than good neighbors but the homogenization of this intersection is regrettable. One of our leading businessmen once asked me, “How will we be able to tell we’re in Maplewood when it looks like just another of these generic intersections throughout the country?” Well, here’s an idea.
This new construction could provide us with a good opportunity to recognize the importance of this place to the history of our community while advertising Maplewood to the thousands of commuters who pass by each day. A tasteful masonry monument located on one or more of these corners could provide multiple functions. The design could signal to the thousands of cars passing by that this is not just another homogeneous intersection. It could inform the passersby that this intersection, this spot on the planet, is the birthplace of the City of Maplewood. It could be constructed in a manner to serve as oases for pedestrians. Low masonry walls could be used to give walkers a sense of protection from the traffic. Nicely landscaped and with benches built into the stonework, the monument would be an attractive feature on the pedestrian route between downtown and the Metrolink station. This site is located on the world famous and mythical Route 66, it would be great if our monument acknowledged that as well
We don’t have a river or a mountain. Without our architecture and people the area known as Maplewood would be hard to pick out. Our history happened only on this spot. This is our number one intersection with regards to the history of Maplewood. Let’s honor that.
Pat Maloney (Wilken)
11:43 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
I remember the Masonic Hall. I think my father-in-law belonged to it. His wife also belonged to the auxiliary? If there is such a thing.
Steven Lewis
1:45 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
The female part of Masons is the Eastern Star.
Doug Houser
6:16 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I have no information on that.
Steven Lewis
2:57 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The Eastern Star met in the basement of the Masonic Temple, my mom Betty Lewis was Worthy Matron atleast twice there. Also the kids were Eastern Star until the boys became old enough to move upstairs.
Jan Pryibil
1:16 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Great Idea. We shouldn't built up so much that we forget the past. Hope that QT does not move and leave another empty business at Flora and Big Bend and make that intersection at Big Bend and Manchester a nightmare to get through. Safety for the people (children) should be the issue...
Steven Lewis
1:53 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
That intersection has always been a nightmare for pedestrians, I can remember avoiding it when I was a kid, I can imagine what it will be like with the added traffic.
Maybe, now just thinking out loud here, what a bout a walking bridge over that intersection that would go to all 4 corners, something with elevators for the handicapped or just elevators for everyone to save the space of steps. Putting a maple leaf on each side would signify that you are in Maplewood.
Ben Hill Triola
2:08 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I too fear the homogenization of Maplewood. I think growth and business are important, but I don't want to lose the identity of Maplewood. I think the idea of a monument, or unique architectural elements is a great idea to ensure that Maplewood has personality. I encourage growth, and as long as we can take the time to grow consciously and carefully we can maintain what we all hold so special about Maplewood.
Doug Houser
6:21 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I'd encourage anyone who feels the same to tell your city council members.
William
2:48 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
The SW corner... that's where Schaefer Shell is now, right? There's an agenda item on tomorrow night's council meeting regarding the addition of a "Planned Unit Development" on that corner. Does this mean there is another big box in the works?
Doug Miner
4:31 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
William - The agenda item for tomorrow's meeting is for the northwest corner, where the scooter store is now. I don't know what Mr. Houser had in mind with his comment about the southwest corner.
Doug Houser
6:26 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I'm purely speculating regarding development on the SW corner. I've heard nothing. The Kalb Electric site is for sale. Not wishing any harm to Schaefer Shell but those two parcels probably have caught the attention of businesses that like that type of location.
William
10:39 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I was doing a little research for the meeting tonight and I think the agenda contains a typo. The property on the agenda is bounded by Manchester on the north, Big Bend on the West and Hazel on the south. I think the topic is to close out the work on the CVS PUD and thus the agenda should have referenced Big Bend as the WESTERN border.
So I don't think there is anything on the agenda for the SW corner
From my view
4:22 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
I like the idea, but have one question. How would it be funded? The more elaborate the monument, the more money it will cost. Just ask the firefighters about the Ryan Hummert statue. It's been a long time coming.
Doug Houser
6:29 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Perhaps the businesses involved would help. It would certainly be a nice gesture and an admirable way to enter a community.
Steven Lewis
3:01 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
You might try a sell a brick campaign to pick up the balance. Or see if there is any of the stimulus funding left. Go back through city records and see how many pedestrians have been injured or killed there, you may have a case for federal funding for safety.
Ian Storm
8:20 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Doug - I had a conversation recently with a city councilperson where I made the same argument about the corner and how when CVS and QT go in it will be no different than driving through Rock Hill or any other County municipality. He brought up the same idea that we could somehow improve the corner to make it a visually distinctive entrance to Maplewood. I think it's a great idea, and would very much support it.
Luke Havel
8:36 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Good post and suggestion Doug. I have already emailed my councilman once before regarding this topic. In addition to the fact that the community really isn't gaining anything with a QT move, if you total up the parking spaces based on the QT plan, CVS site specs and the two other existing businesses, I think its close to 200 parking spots at a marquee intersection of an urban walkable community. To me that is laughable and a waste of an intersection that should say "Welcome To Maplewood."
Justin Fisher
8:59 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Everyone is complaining about how this will make the intersection too corporate/commercial. It's been commercial for a LONG time. How is anything changing? A Shell, White Castle, and two car dealers. How is that not already commercial. I don't see the difference.
I understand the arguments about traffic, and those make sense and I agree. But to claim that the corner is all the sudden BECOMING too commercial/corporate is disingenuous.
Luke Havel
10:04 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I don't know if the issue is so much the commercialization of the intersection as it is wasting the opportunity to make it better or different and fit the unique character of Maplewood. When two of 4 properties are potentially being redeveloped, that's a real opportunity. Our elected officials should be demanding more from commercial chains who want to come in. They know what the traffic density is at that intersection and they want to be there. The link below illustrates the type of opportunity that based on what I am seeing has been wasted at the CVS site.
http://nextstl.com/urban-living/how-to-get-a-cvs-that-doesn-t-suck
I think what this post and comments is asking for is the much desired compromise that could blend Maplewood's character with the current proposals.
Justin Fisher
10:35 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Luke, I completely get that and I agree with you. But unfortunately, I think these days, the only people with the money to actually do new development is the QuickTrips of the world.
That CVS would look MUCH better!
Doug Houser
1:16 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I think Luke put it very well and thanks for the link. Everyone should take a look at that article. I'm concerned about having to sit through numerous traffic lights just to get through the intersection or having traffic backup in the left turn lanes. The increase in vehicles entering and exiting these two sites will be enormous. How can that not be more dangerous?